Help

Newsletter

Seahawks fuss over Gus, but are expected to rout him

Paul Jasienski Associated Press Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll (right) talks with former defensive coordinator Gus Bradley during a 2011 victory against the New York Giants. Bradley left the Seahawks after last season to become head coach of the Jaguars.

The themes at Seattle’s practice facility are identical to the ones at EverBank Field.

The program built by Seattle coach Pete Carroll is being used by former Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley as he tries to rebuild the Jaguars.

No one knows this more than Seattle defensive tackle D’Anthony Smith. He spent the entire offseason with the Jaguars before being traded to the Seahawks on Aug. 31.

The transition was easy for Smith.

“I was laughing a lot the first week I was here, because the environment is so similar,” Smith said. “It’s laid back and player friendly. It’s the same principle in terms of competition and competing every day. Play hard, play fast. That’s what they do there and they do it at a higher level here.”

The Seahawks are operating at a far higher level than the winless Jaguars. Seattle is 2-0, a Super Bowl contender and enters Sunday’s game against the Jaguars as a whopping 19-point favorite.

Bradley played a major role in building the Seahawks, working as defensive coordinator from 2009-12. He’s seen Carroll’s plan work and hopes to mimic it with similar results with the Jaguars.

“I had a philosophy on a lot of different things, but no central theme to bring it together,” Bradley said. “I knew how I would treat people and how I would handle things with players. But the main cog where the spokes come together? I don’t think I had that. But the years I was with Pete, it came together.”

Carroll retained Bradley as defensive coordinator when he was hired prior to the 2010 season. The move was somewhat unusual, but Carroll took the advice of longtime NFL defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. Bradley had worked with Kiffin in Tampa Bay for three seasons.

Carroll’s relationship with Kiffin, currently Dallas’ defensive coordinator, goes back to the 1984 season when both worked for the Buffalo Bills.

“Gus had been so close to Monte Kiffin, who is the guy that taught me everything I know,” Carroll said. “Kiff totally supported him. I wanted to find out in great depth what his background was and what he thought about stuff. I had the time, so I took the time and it worked out great.”

Over the following three seasons, Carroll recognized the strides Bradley was making. He realized when the Seahawks were in the midst of their 12-win 2012 season that Bradley would be in high demand around the league.

“Gus has such a dynamic personality,” Carroll said. “He’s loaded with the kind of mentality, mind-set, communication skills and the kind of sensitivity that it takes to deal with people from all different kinds of areas. There’s no question that he was ready to go do this in my mind.”

Carroll called it a “great prize” for him personally that the Jaguars hired Bradley. He also isn’t surprised Bradley is running the Jaguars program in a similar fashion.

“That’s a really cool thing,” Carroll said. “Gus was very inquisitive throughout our years together to know what the language meant and where it came from. What were the pitfalls, all of that. He, as well as anybody, was the deepest into what we’re doing. So, I’m not surprised he would stick to it because he was such a committed follower in all of it.”

A MISSED MAN

Seattle Pro Bowl free safety Earl Thomas hasn’t trusted many people in his life. Bradley was one of the few. When he left for the Jaguars, Thomas admits he was disappointed.

Bradley played a major role in molding Thomas, who arrived as the team’s first-round pick in 2010 out of Texas.

“When I first got here, I was kind of a rebel,” Thomas said. “I didn’t trust anybody, because coming from where I grew up it’s hard to trust people. They’d get you every time. It took me awhile, but Gus was one of the first coaches that I was drawn to.”

In addition to developing Thomas into an elite player, Bradley provided support in difficult times.

“It was more than a coach-player relationship,” Thomas said. “It was more of a family relationship. Being able to talk about life in general. When my grandpa died during my second year, he was there for me. There’s just a lot of great memories with him.”

Bradley texted Thomas on Wednesday night, telling him how proud he was of the player he had evolved into. Thomas quickly responded.

“I told him it started with him,” Thomas said. “I think he’ll turn that program around if they give him a chance.”

Bradley had a profound impact on Seattle defensive end Red Bryant as well. Bryant’s career at defensive tackle was floundering after making one start in his first two seasons with the team (2008-09). Bradley moved the 6-foot-4, 323-pound Bryant to end. He has flourished since.

Bryant has become a rock for Seattle’s line, starting every game the last two seasons. He was named the team’s defensive captain this season.

“Gus had a great impact on my development,” Bryant said. “He was instrumental in me moving to [end]. I’m forever grateful to him for that.”

Under Bradley’s tutelage, cornerback Richard Sherman made the quantum leap from being a fifth-round pick in 2011 to arguably the best cornerback in the NFL today. Sherman looks back with fond memories on his first encounter with Bradley.

“The first time I met him, I thought, man, this guy just drank a Red Bull,” Sherman said. “There’s no way he can maintain this throughout the whole season, but as you watch Gus, every single day he’s giving you the same energy, the same positivity. You just can’t beat that.”

Sherman, who adds that Bradley is a “hilarious storyteller” on game days, said there’s considerable football savvy behind the smile.

“He’s a fantastic game planner,” Sherman said. “Fantastic at understanding schemes of offenses, the way their trying to attack defenses, and being able to contain that. He translates that to his players and we translate it onto the field. The players are confident in his game plan, because you see the great points he makes on the field.”

Bryant, however, cautioned not to mistake Bradley’s good vibes for a lack of toughness.

“A lot of times, people look tough and they’re soft and a lot of times people look soft, but they’re tough,” Bryant said. “Gus has a fire about him. I played for him for four years and I know what type of man he is. He’s committed to winning and you best believe he’s going to come up with the best game plan to beat us.”

FACING OFF

The minutes leading up to Sunday’s game might be dramatic for Bradley and the Seahawks, but the game might not be.

The Jaguars are the NFL’s worst offense in terms of yards gained (213 per game) and points scored (5.5 a game). The Seahawks counter with the league’s best figure in total defense (230 yards per game) and points allowed (5.0 a game).

Seattle has already shut down offenses run by accomplished dual-threat quarterbacks in San Francisco’s Colin Kaepernick and Carolina’s Cam Newton.

“We’ll go out before the game shake hands and hug,” Bryant said. “Then, for 60 minutes, we’ll go at it. Hopefully, we can get the win. After the game, we can be lovey-dovey.”

Seattle seems intent on not losing focus after routing rival San Francisco 29-3 last Sunday night. The Seahawks are aiming for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and have preached all week that a loss to the Jaguars could spoil their plans down the road.

Still, it seems many of Seattle’s veterans are having a little harder time preparing for this week’s contest.

“It’s tough, because Gus is such a great coach,” Sherman said. “He’s such a great friend to a lot of guys on this team. It’s not something guys want to necessarily do if they didn’t have to. But, we have to.”